Sins of the First: To Be an Artificer

[opius]

He sighed a little, noticing her foot. Despite his reluctance to be close initially, he was getting used to being prodded, poked, and touched. It felt... Nice? Awfully nice in the hot water. He resisted the urge to speak up or follow up with her notes about her understanding of the various schools of thought. Rather than come off as pedantic, her takes were... Acceptable.

And honestly, he was enjoying the contact enough to not want to break it up with a lecture.

Raising a brow, he planted his folded hands on his belly and shrugged. "I'm not a teacher, but I can share the memetics and tricks that helped me remember the fundamentals." He paused. "... And I could teach the fundamentals. Possibly make another hat to help you focus your thoughts. You'll need to understand the basics of Runic, and you'll need to know your way around creating. The key part of Artifice is -Art-... You need a creative focus to apply the magical theory to. That might be the prerequisite with the biggest time investment."

[CautionCat]

"I like to make origami..." She jutted her jaw to the side in thought. "My teacher said I had a lot of potential back home. Not just with magic. I have a feeling he wanted to... exploit me. He always came off... strange and very attentive to what I could do."

Konane continued to rub her foot on his, stimming and enjoying the feeling of his soft upper foot on the bottom of hers. She was a very physical person, and was doing her best to not overwhelm him with her touching and proding. But sometimes she just wanted to poke and tickle him.

"But I think if I make origami that moves? Little metal folded things... Or a flying broom! That way I do not weigh you down." She giggled, holding her hand over her mouth. "I am a very good learner. I remember just about everything you have told me, the colors of the aether stones... what runic does what when you made your little toad... The one that is shaped like this-" She would conjure light in the shape of a rune, one that Alastair said was a tricky one to make, due to the curves of the symbol.

"This one, you said links the smaller sets of runes to the main one, to link the magic together for the toad to move. And this one-!" She moved her hand to reshape the rune into a different one. "That is the one you said makes it croak, and release the magic to break a spell."

Alastair was already teaching Konane every time she watched him tinker, and asked questions... She loved to learn more, or have a hands on experience with the tools... "So, maybe next time you are making a toad, or the octopus... or re-etching the runes, I could help?"

[opius]

His brows lifted as she drew the shape, and more and more as she spoke at length. Blinking, she could see a touch of redness in his ears. He was... Dumbfounded wasn't the word- he wasn't sure he had a word for this.

"You actually remembered all that? Retained it, even. Here I thought I was just talking your ear off..." He laughed and shifted, scratching his head. "Certainly there's a lot more to it- runic is useful but it's also incredibly dangerous once you've connected it to a live aetherstone... But if you're serious about it, I can show you more." He smiled that awkward, crookedy smile of his before glancing away. There was a moment's silence as he chose his words.

"...I don't want to cast judgment on your mentor... But you are special. And there are people out there who'd use special, talented people- set them on a path they want to see unfold. If he was a bad, smart man, he'd have seen the possibility in someone like you. A person who can wish for magic and make it real." He glanced back at her with a smile.

"I'm glad you turned out to be a good person. If you weren't, it'd be... Pretty frightening."

[CautionCat]

Konane smiled. It was a soft smile, with a bit of shyness to it. She was a good person... even if she did kill people. But it was self defense... it was for good. It was a hard thought to think about... her smile faded, and she shook her head.

"Am I really a good person? I... I have never killed anyone until..." She paused, and leaned back down. "I do not want to think about it. But if you think I am, then I should be." She thought more about that, and a sour thought came to mind.

"I do not think I was a good person, before meeting you all. I was... manipulative. I did not use my magic to charm anyone to do anything they did not want, but... I did lead boys on for... selfish reasons."

She looked at him, and shook her head. "I have made boys fall in love with me, and fight over me. I did not realize how much damage I was doing until one tried to be very serious with me. I... never liked the idea of a relationship. Why muddy sex with that."

She folded her arms, and hugged herself some. "Now I am regretful. I wish my first time was more special. I wish my lust did not drive me. But... I am learning. I have learned. And now... well... I am with feelings for you. You changed me, Alastair. You are not like any of the boys at home."

[opius]

"Woh jeeze..." He scratched behind his head. "That is too much responsibility. Gonna need a moment to process... that." He laughed, cheeks flushed while he refused to make eye contact for more than a fleeting moment. "Y'know, I don't think that makes you... bad necessarily. Maybe a little shortsighted? Maybe a bit of a jerk, like a kid who wants cake for themself instead of sharing a cake. I don't uh... Know if sex is cake-like, but let's go with it I guess..." He pursed his lips and finally did glance back at her.

"We're not the same people we were four months ago. And not just us- I think we've all changed. And I'm not sure that I changed you. Not entirely, anyway... It could just be that in our adventure your tastes have changed with you- maybe you're better at filtering out what you really want. Or maybe you just needed to be stuck with someone for longer than a fling. Or maybe it's... I don't know- forbidden fruit? And it's just my weird hangups that make me seem interesting." He shrugged and looked back to the sky. "I'm sorry you regret the kind of person you used to be, but I'm glad you're the person you are now. You're uh, pretty cool- beyond the magic and potential and the mysticism."

[CautionCat]

Konane snorted. It was a touching moment, but the idea of Alastair being a "forbidden fruit" amused her. Tickled, even. Something to work for... but to cherish and hold onto. She felt her heart flutter a little- another thing the boys didn't do to her at home. Made her feel... like this.

"You are interesting, Alastair. You may say all of this changed me, but I know you changed me the most. You are... so upbeat and get so angry when people do the wrong thing." She pressed her leg against him, foot still toying with his. "You know I have never seen anyone with red hair until I met you all. That is how closed off from the rest of Mobius I was."

"I love your red hair. I love your eyes that do not match. Your freckles, the way you blush- how red your ears get. They are red, right now! It makes you look cute, and silly. I love the way you make me think better about things. You are very good at a lot, and you do not give yourself enough credit."

[opius]

He laughed, now truly flummoxed at her praise. It wasn't just his ears turning red now, either. Squirming, he laughed as her foot brushed his and pushed back in kind, half tangling as the water was disturbed. He grew animated, speaking with his hands now. "Wh- I get it, I'm different and you like the things I do- I am. I'm not sure what to do with that- thank you? Thank you. I like that you like me! And- I don't know- there's probably half a million things I could say I like about you, but it's hard to really think straight when you're going on about me like that. I'm tickled! And I'm not used to it in the slightest." His laughter petered off, voice cracking here and there as he verbally processed his feelings on the matter.

"I believe you- I believe it when you say it. I don't see much in me. Save for- I don't know, the potential I think I have that I've yet to reach? I've always expected to climb and climb to prove I'm worth something and here you are saying I'm already there. It's... A lot. I don't think I know how to properly take a compliment." He trailed off a little, still smiling as he reflected on that last statement.

It wasn't wrong, he thought. You don't know how to take a compliment. It has been an uphill climb. Did it have to be? Have you been worth it from the get go, and were just too in your own head to see it?

Can one person's kindness be all it takes to change your mind on the matter? A few compliments and a pep talk?

These were new, confusing waters. But the hot spring felt nice. The contact felt nice. And the kind words, if alien, felt nice.

[CautionCat]

"I am happy that you believe me. I believe you, too. But the difference between us with that, is that I know I am gifted. I have been told that many times, and every time I am told, I am reassured that it is good."

"You, though, you act like you never got much positive say in the things you do, or did. That makes me mad! You are incredibly gifted, and Alain missed out! He knows it, too. I can see it in his sad eyes. I want to do this right, Alastair. I want to help you thrive, as you want to see me soar."

Konane shifted, and brought a hand around Alastair's shoulder, hugging him into her. "Together, as Valor Company, we are capable of many things. We all have gifts, and are learning from each other how to be better. You are going to learn so much with the ship... I can not wait to see what improvements you make."

[opius]

He laughed as he was abruptly pulled into her embrace, suddenly very aware of her naked skin on his. "Oh, gosh. There's- there's no need to get all... inspirational. I know I'm skilled. I take pride in my work! And I- I did have support in my work. I had a lot. I also got a lot of critique and criticism, and most of the time I'd get mad and do it again, but better. I like to think I'm tempering my expectations and keeping my ego in check by being... Acutely aware of my shortcomings, working to improve or circumvent them. Adapting the best I can to, uh, conditions I'm not... Familiar... With." He looked back to her.

"Alain did miss out. And some of my professors missed out too. And I agree that together we've got real potential to elevate one another." He smiled.

"...But truly, I am elated over this ship business. Some day I am going to make Davrim jealous. Incredibly, inconsolably jealous."

[CautionCat]

Konane laughed, a hearty one, and gave him a squeeze of a hug- naked- but she was absolutely too comfortable being physical. She did not hug him for long, though, the realization hitting her, and she gave him a little space.

"Good, I am glad you are stubborn. That is one of the many things I like about you." Smiling, she turned to grab one of the bars of soap sitting by the edge of the spring, and a cloth. "Right, we should not sit around and be naked for no reason. There is grime on you I must scrub off."

[opius]

"Right- right. There's grime to- Wait what?" He went to reach for soap on his end, expecting a mirrored set up but found no soap where he sat. "Oh- no, you don't need to- I'm perfectly capable of cleaning myself!"

[CautionCat]

"I know you are capable, but I will only wash where you will let me. I will not go below the water line... Unless?" She raised her brows, teasing.

"But, it is fine if you are not comfortable. I have always enjoyed being washed- well, I was also little, and in a hot tub with my Mam. Think of it as a closer skinship."

[opius]

His face grew about as red as she'd expected from the comment, somewhere between a peach and a tomato with freckles. "I beg your pardon, ma'am." He huffed. "I most certainly can clean my own nethers, thank you very much. But if you're adamant about scrubbing off the engine grease, then fine- Knock yourself out." He puffed and folded his arms.

And very quietly, "...I wouldn't mind a scalp scrub anyway, I guess..."

[CautionCat]

She cackled, that foxish yipping laugh she always had when she was thoroughly amused. Hand to her mouth, she felt tickled that that embarrassed the hell out of him. "Yes yes, I am fine with lathering your scalp. You already like it when I pet your hair, you will love your hair washed. It is so, so grimy..." She made a gesture with her hands for him to dunk his head into the water.

"We can start with just hair, okay? I do not want to embarrass you too much. Plus, who knows if Taliesin is watching." She squinted, looking around the Glade for a moment. "I am sure he would not... he is too busy wooing Mirrai."

[opius]

"Does Taliesin even have to watch? I mean, is it something he needs to actively participate in?" He tilted his head before scooting forward, deeper into the pool. "I'm starting to think the Glade is sort of like... Part of him. If he can shift and change it with a thought, who's to say he isn't just... aware of whatever's going on? For as much as he likes security and safety, there's nothing safer than being borderline omniscient in ones own home." He leaned forward to dunk his upper body into the water, brushing his hands through his hair a few times to thoroughly wet it. When he came back up, he slicked the hair back and brushed the water from his face.

"Mirrai seems interesting... Those two are hitting it off, it looks like. I'm glad we came across her, he seems a little happier around her."